Coverslipping machine

Abstract

A coverslipping machine (1) is embodied to be connected to an electrical power grid in order to be supplied with electrical energy as an electrical load; and removes specimen slides (4), having samples present thereon, from a specimen slide magazine (5) and respectively carries out a coverslipping process in which a mounting medium (7) and then a coverslip (8) are applied onto each specimen slide (4); and deposits the coverslipped specimen slides (4) in the specimen slide magazine (5) or in a further specimen slide magazine (55). The coverslipping machine (1) has an electrical energy reservoir (12) and an electronic control apparatus (13). The electronic control apparatus (13) detects disruptions in the supply of electrical energy from the power grid and, in the event of a disruption, switches over to a withdrawal of electrical energy from the electrical energy reservoir (12), and carries out a safety routine that includes at least the safety steps of completing the coverslipping of specimen slides (4) already equipped with the mounting medium (7), and then depositing them in the specimen slide magazine (5) or in the further specimen slide magazine (55).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A coverslipping machine ( 1 ) configured to be connected to an electrical power grid in order to be supplied with electrical energy as an electrical load; and which removes specimen slides ( 4 ), having samples present thereon, from a specimen slide magazine ( 5 ) and respectively carries out a coverslipping process in which a mounting medium ( 7 ) and then a coverslip ( 8 ) are applied onto each specimen slide ( 4 ); and which deposits the coverslipped specimen slides ( 4 ) in the specimen slide magazine ( 5 ) or in a further specimen slide magazine ( 55 ), the coverslipping machine comprising:
 an electrical energy reservoir ( 12 ); and 
 an electronic control apparatus ( 13 ) configured to detect disruptions in the supply of electrical energy from the power grid and, in the event of a disruption, switch over to a withdrawal of electrical energy from the electrical energy reservoir ( 12 ), and execute a safety routine including at least the safety steps of completing the coverslipping of specimen slides ( 4 ) already equipped with the mounting medium ( 7 ), and then depositing the completed specimens slides ( 4 ) in the specimen slide magazine ( 5 ) or in the further specimen slide magazine ( 55 ); 
 wherein the safety routine includes, as a further safety step, conveying back into the specimen slide magazine ( 5 ) specimen slides ( 4 ) that have been removed from the specimen slide magazine ( 5 ) and are not yet equipped with mounting medium ( 7 ). 
 
     
     
       2. The coverslipping machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the safety routine includes, as a further safety step, immersing into a solvent bath ( 15 ) a hollow needle ( 6 ) that serves to apply mounting medium ( 7 ). 
     
     
       3. The coverslipping machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the safety routine includes, as a further safety step, transferring the specimen slide magazine ( 5 ) and/or the further specimen slide magazine ( 55 ) to an output for removal by a user. 
     
     
       4. The coverslipping machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the safety routine comprises switching off, while the safety steps are being executed, at least one energy load of the coverslipping machine ( 1 ) which is not needed in order to execute the at least one safety step. 
     
     
       5. The coverslipping machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the safety routine comprises conveying the coverslipping machine ( 1 ) into a state from which a restart in normal operating mode is possible without damage. 
     
     
       6. The coverslipping machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronic control apparatus ( 13 ) is further configured to switch the coverslipping machine ( 1 ) back into a normal operating mode once the safety routine has been executed and only if a disruption in the supply of electrical energy from the power grid no longer exists and/or if the electrical energy reservoir ( 12 ) is in a predetermined minimum charge state. 
     
     
       7. The coverslipping machine ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a. the electronic control apparatus ( 13 ) is further configured to automatically switch the coverslipping machine ( 1 ) back into a normal operating mode once the safety routine has been executed and the electronic control apparatus ( 13 ) detects that a disruption in the supply of electrical energy from the power grid no longer exists; or 
 b. the electronic control apparatus ( 13 ) is further configured to automatically switch the coverslipping machine ( 1 ) back into a normal operating mode once the safety routine has been executed and the electronic control apparatus ( 13 ) detects that a disruption in the supply of electrical energy from the power grid no longer exists, and that the electrical energy reservoir ( 12 ) is in a predetermined minimum charge state. 
 
     
     
       8. A system comprising:
 a coverslipping machine ( 1 ) configured to be connected to an electrical power grid in order to be supplied with electrical energy as an electrical load; and which removes specimen slides ( 4 ), having samples present thereon, from a specimen slide magazine ( 5 ) and respectively carries out a coverslipping process in which a mounting medium ( 7 ) and then a coverslip ( 8 ) are applied onto each specimen slide ( 4 ); and which deposits the coverslipped specimen slides ( 4 ) in the specimen slide magazine ( 5 ) or in a further specimen slide magazine ( 55 ), the coverslipping machine comprising:
 an electrical energy reservoir ( 12 ); and 
 an electronic control apparatus ( 13 ) configured to detect disruptions in the supply of electrical energy from the power grid and, in the event of a disruption, switch over to a withdrawal of electrical energy from the electrical energy reservoir ( 12 ), and execute a safety routine including at least the safety steps of completing the coverslipping of specimen slides ( 4 ) already equipped with the mounting medium ( 7 ), and then depositing the completed specimens slides ( 4 ) in the specimen slide magazine ( 5 ) or in the further specimen slide magazine  55 , wherein the safety routine includes, as a further safety step, conveying back into the specimen slide magazine ( 5 ) specimen slides ( 4 ) that have been removed from the specimen slide magazine ( 5 ) and are not yet equipped with mounting medium ( 7 ); and 
 
 a further automated machine ( 16 ) for processing or investigating biological samples, the further automated machine ( 16 ) being configured to be connected to an electrical power grid in order to be supplied with electrical energy as a load, the coverslipping machine ( 1 ) and the further automated machine ( 16 ) being electrically connected or electrically connectable by an electric connection such that electrical energy is transferrable from the energy reservoir ( 12 ) of the coverslipping machine ( 1 ) to the further automated machine ( 16 ), and/or that electrical energy is transferrable from the further automated machine ( 16 ) to the coverslipping machine ( 1 ). 
 
     
     
       9. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the further automated machine ( 16 ) comprises a further electrical energy reservoir ( 18 ); and the coverslipping machine ( 1 ) and the further automated machine ( 16 ) are electrically connected or electrically connectable such that electrical energy is transferrable from the further energy reservoir ( 18 ) to the coverslipping machine ( 1 ), and/or that electrical energy is transferrable from the coverslipping machine ( 1 ) to the further automated machine ( 16 ). 
     
     
       10. The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the further automated machine comprises a further electronic control apparatus ( 19 ), wherein
 a. the further automated machine is configured to remove samples from a magazine and respectively execute a processing process in which at least one processing step is executed, and then deposit the processed sample in the magazine or in a further magazine; and 
 b. the further electronic control apparatus ( 19 ) is configured to detect disruptions in the supply of electrical energy from the power grid and, in the event of a disruption, switch over to a withdrawal of electrical energy from the further electrical energy reservoir ( 18 ), and execute a further safety routine that includes at least the safety steps of completing the processing of samples that are already in the processing process, and then conveying the completely processed samples into a secure position. 
 
     
     
       11. The system according to  claim 10 , wherein
 a. the control apparatus ( 13 ) is configured to transfer data regarding the charge state of the energy reservoir ( 12 ), and/or the remaining operating time of the energy reservoir ( 12 ), and/or the predicted energy demand for executing the safety routine of the coverslipping machine ( 1 ), to the further control apparatus ( 19 ); or 
 b. the further control apparatus ( 19 ) is configured to transfer data regarding the charge state of the further energy reservoir ( 18 ), and/or the remaining operating time of the further energy reservoir ( 18 ), and/or the predicted energy demand for executing the safety routine of the further automated machine, to the control apparatus ( 13 ). 
 
     
     
       12. The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the further automated machine comprises a further electronic control apparatus ( 19 ), wherein
 a. the further automated machine is configured to receive samples that are arranged in magazines and execute, on the samples respectively arranged in a magazine, a processing process in which at least one processing step is executed, and then output the magazine having the collectively processed samples; and 
 b. the further electronic control apparatus ( 19 ) is configured to detect disruptions in the supply of electrical energy from the power grid and, in the event of a disruption, switch over to a withdrawal of electrical energy from the further electrical energy reservoir ( 18 ), and execute a further safety routine that includes at least the safety steps of completing the processing of samples in magazines that have samples already in the processing process, and then conveying such magazines into a safe position. 
 
     
     
       13. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein
 a. the further automated machine ( 16 ) comprises a further electronic control apparatus ( 19 ), and the control apparatus ( 13 ), or the further control apparatus ( 19 ) of the further automated machine ( 16 ), is configured to automatically establish the electrical connection when the control apparatus ( 13 ) or the further control apparatus ( 19 ) detects a disruption in the supply of electrical energy from the power grid; or 
 b. the control apparatus ( 13 ) is configured to automatically establish the electrical connection when the control apparatus ( 13 ) detects a disruption in the supply of electrical energy from the power grid and ascertains that a current charge state of the energy reservoir ( 12 ) is predicted to be insufficient for executing the safety routine; or 
 c. the further control apparatus ( 19 ) of the further automated machine ( 16 ) is configured to automatically establish the electrical connection when the further control apparatus ( 19 ) detects a disruption in the supply of electrical energy from the power grid and ascertains that a current charge state of the further energy reservoir ( 18 ) is predicted to be insufficient for executing the further safety routine. 
 
     
     
       14. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein
 a. the control apparatus ( 13 ) is configured to control the transfer of electrical energy from the coverslipping machine ( 1 ) to the further automated machine ( 16 ) and/or the transfer of electrical energy from the further automated machine ( 16 ) to the coverslipping machine ( 1 ); or 
 b. the further automated machine ( 16 ) comprises a further electronic control apparatus ( 19 ), and the further control apparatus ( 19 ) of the further automated machine is configured to control the transfer of electrical energy from the coverslipping machine ( 1 ) to the further automated machine ( 16 ) and/or the transfer of electrical energy from the further automated machine ( 16 ) to the coverslipping machine ( 1 ). 
 
     
     
       15. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the further automated machine ( 16 ) comprises a further electronic control apparatus ( 19 ), and the control apparatus ( 13 ) and the further control apparatus ( 19 ) of the further automated machine ( 16 ) together control the transfer of electrical energy from the coverslipping machine ( 1 ) to the further automated machine ( 16 ) and/or the transfer of electrical energy from the further automated machine ( 16 ) to the coverslipping machine ( 1 ). 
     
     
       16. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the further automated machine ( 16 ) is an automatic scanner ( 28 ) or an embedding machine ( 25 ) or an automatic microtome ( 26 ) or a stainer or an automatic processor ( 24 ) or a further coverslipping machine.